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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Should Windows 7 be a free upgrade to all Vista Ultimate users?

By | May 13, 2009, 5:58am PDT

Summary: Should Microsoft make Windows 7 available as a free upgrade to all Vista Ultimate users? Analyst Michael Cherry thinks this is what Microsoft should do.

Should Microsoft make Windows 7 available as a free upgrade to all Vista Ultimate users? Analyst Michael Cherry thinks this is what Microsoft should do.

So, why should Microsoft extend this generous offer to Vista Ultimate users? According to Cherry the reason is because the company failed to deliver on its promise to provide those running Vista Ultimate with the Ultimate Extras that were promised.

Regular readers will recall that I’ve ranted about the poor show of Ultimate Extras that Microsoft released for Vista customers a number of times. In fact, “poor show” is an understatement. Most of the downloads that Microsoft made available were little more than junk.

Poll

Should Windows 7 be a free upgrade to Vista Ultimate customers?

I was also very annoyed as to how Microsoft tried to brush the whole Ultimate Extras issue under the mat with Vista SP1 by changing the wording on the relevant screen in Control Panel.

Personally, I agree with Cherry and feel that Microsoft should give something to those people who bought the Ultimate Vista package (especially those who paid for a retail copy) and didn’t get everything that they were promised. After all, a free (or perhaps a lower-cost) upgrade to Windows 7 is all that Microsoft has left to offer. Realistically though, I don’t see it happening, both because of the cost and the admin hassles.

Anyone else out there feel annoyed at being duped by the Ultimate Extras?

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Treat Windows Like a Game
DancherBoi 26th Jun 2009
What Microsoft should have done is released all versions of Vista at launch except Ultimate. They should have held on to it to see what the adoption rate was going to be. If the rate was low, then sit on it and never release it. If the rate was high, then it would have been worth building all the extras that Ultimate had promised.

This is basically what game developers do to entice people who have been on the fence about purchasing their software. Once they see the frenzy, they add level, weapons, character classes etc...then repackage the whole thing as "Game of the Year Edition" or "Platinum Edition" with all the goodies bundled for the same price as the original game was at launch.

I bought Ultimate at Vista launch and was disappointed by the lack of content. I am more disappointed now that there is such a lame upgrade path option for me. I am kind of mad that I am excluded from the pre-order 50% off promotion. MS really needs to get their act together. This is not a time in our economic history to be greedy, it's a time for building relationships with customers by righting wrongs and showing good faith.
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Compensation due
johnfenjackson@... Updated - 13th May 2009
Free would be generous ... but some compensation would be fair and well received.

Reminds me of a visit I made to a brand new cinema. The sound quality was poor for a couple of minutes, flickering on and off: no big deal. When the audience exited the auditorium they were greeted by apologetic staff ... issuing free tickets to another movie.

Excellent customer relations turning a loss into a win.
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Or offer a $29 upgrade to 7 Ultimate...
BillDem 13th May 2009
Even if they offer 7 Ultimate as a $29 upgrade for Vista Ultimate owners, it would go a long way toward calming the ill-will they generated by not delivering on their promises.
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agree
KrazdKiller 13th May 2009
i can live with this idea
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You have it backward
Cayble 13th May 2009
The suggestion of simply giving an entire newly minted OS away to compensate for missing "Extras" on an older OS is overkill. Sure, it would be nice, but lots of things in life would be nice but wouldn't make a lot of sense if they happened.

What MS might want to do is offer a $29, or even bigger discount for those who want to upgrade to Win7. That makes more sense.

The problem is that Ultimate Extras was never so clearly defined that it is now clearly a breach of an MS promise, it just looks like shabby performance on their part more then anything. A discount on a Win 7 upgrade from Vista Ultimate (no deadline on the upgrade) would be a tangible method of showing that if nothing else purchasers of Vista Ultimate definitely get at least one real Extra.
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backward?
dlgainesjr@... 13th May 2009
Windows 7 is what vista was supposed to be. We got short changed. What should happen is all vista versions should have a free upgrade. All windows 7 is is a service pack. It is not a completely new OS as it builds on what vista is, otherwise you would not be able to choose an upgrade option, but a new install.
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Builds on what Vista is?
weir.jared@... 13th May 2009
While the resemblence is there, at the heart Windows 7 is a completely revamped OS. Have you even used it?
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Wrong
His_Shadow 14th May 2009
"While the resemblence is there, at the heart Windows 7 is a completely revamped OS."

Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Vista took 6 years and didn't include any of the next gen features they promised but Vista Service Pack 3 (Win 7) is a completely revamped OS and they got this out the door in two years?

Nice try.
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Wanna try that again..?
Wolfie2K3 14th May 2009
Windows 2000 came out - it was (like Vista) a brand new version of the NT family - version 5.0.

XP came out shortly after that and it was a "brand new" OS - And yet, it wasn't. It was version 5.1.

In exactly the same way, Vista is a new version of the NT family - version 6.0.

Windows 7 is version 6.1. It is not Vista SP3. It is not "what Vista should have been." It's Windows 7. Period. Full Stop.

Like it or not, Windows 7 has enough substantial differences under the hood as well as on the desktop to make it a new OS.

And yes, 2 years isn't that hard to imagine. Vista was a complete overhaul of the OS. Given they used the Vista code base as starting point, it wouldn't take all that long to write the new code on top of the existing code base.

Those "next gen" features were pulled mainly because they weren't quite as workable as they looked on paper. They were ideas that didn't pan out. Gee.. Like that's NEVER happened before.
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NOT Vista SP3
weir.jared@... 14th May 2009
Until you use it, please shut your trap. You're only serving to make a fool out of yourself as the Linux zealots would clearly show you what Ubuntu did in 2 years time was major progress. Why is it so unbelievable when I can already tell you haven't even used it and are already judging it? Sorry, but for everyone claiming it's Vista SP3, quite frankly IT ISN'T. Anything else is FUD.
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Wrong --> Vista took 6 years...
PollyProteus 18th May 2009
Vista itself didn't take six years to develop, it just took six years to hit the streets.

Vista was the result of the post-Longhorn reset OS where Longhorn had become what basically amounts to as a cancelled project.

Read here for the information that will clarify: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_Windows_Vista#Mid-2004_to_Mid-2005:_Development_.22reset.22

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The Poets were wrong. The bestthings in life are not free!
windozefreak 19th May 2009
N/T
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Re: backward?
stevecain.geo@... 13th May 2009
I would wholeheartedly agree with the free upgrade. Why pay for something to work the way it should have in the FIRST place?
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Sure, let's go with that.
MarkKB Updated - 13th May 2009
Hey, this Windows 7 thing is just what Windows 95 shoulda been in the FIRST place! We demand free upgrades!
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AMEN, I feel the pain
davidaj 14th May 2009
I was promised that with DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1.That didn't work out to well.Half of you probably don't even know the old ways.If microsoft pisses you off so bad then switch to Apple or Linux.

Funny thing is Redmond knows you are full of hot air and you will buy Win 7.As a gamer , XP is the better OS hands down.I do have Vista on a laptop it's ok.

7 is a new OS regardless how you feel you have been cheated or promised something.Promises are broken all the time.Did I want Vista ? no.Do I like it? not really.

But when you all get it and use it and they come out with something new after 7 you'll find a reason to complain about that too.Better yet complain to the president,he will assuredly fix all of your problems.
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i'm glad
applegod 19th May 2009
I'm glad i am going back to mac cause this windows stuff is stupid, apple released a very bad 10.0 and they made a 10.1 a free upgrade for such a bad previous OS and they have done this with 7.5.3 as well. MS doesn't cause they don't care WHAT SO EVER about there customers. Apple may be a pain sometimes, but at least on occasion they do the right thing. Why cant M$?
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Why pay for anything??
Cayble 16th May 2009
Why pay for any version of Windows or any version of any software??? After all, upgrades represent what the producers think the software should be as opposed to what it was before!!

Get real. Your comment is both stupid and the result of no thought brought into the debate, just an animosity for MS. No one says you have to like MS, but common sense dictates if your going to take the time to post at least use a modicum of logic.
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They still owe me for the Vista-capable upgrade fiasco
Wintel BSOD 17th May 2009
But I don't expect them to pay. Greed rules their day.

sad
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RE: backward?
dougbeer 13th May 2009
But it is a new install, so I don't follow you on this. I do, however, think it would be a wonderful gesture for MS to offer a reasonable discount to Vista Ultimate users and perhaps all of Vista users.
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I have Vista Ultimate
mjolnar@... 14th May 2009
It has never really done anything like they were saying it would. I wasn't as bad as people said, but Vista is just slow and bulky. I wasn't unhappy with XP, but I thought, this was going to be a marked improvement. Even after SP1, it is marginal at best.

I have used Windows since 92, last year I got so fed up with it, I switched to Ubuntu. I still use Vista a few times a month, but I wouldn't use the rebate for Ultimate owners anyway. They have nothing I can't do in Linux. It is just going to take me a while to figure everything out. I still don't know all the tricks to Vista, like most of the rest of you. But I will not be using it enough to bother with that.
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I agree, its great for you...
Cayble 16th May 2009
...that you could switch. In fact, anyone who really can switch without making things worse should. But for 90% of the population switching isn't currently a good choice. Most who suggest switching have no idea at all the difficulties in MOST situations switching would cause.
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Do a wee reality check...
Cayble 16th May 2009
Windows 8 is what Windows 7 was supposed to be, and if you expect a free upgrade for that send me a picture of your blue face while your holding your breath for that to happen.

Your comment is seriously stupid.
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Agree with "Backward!"
Disgruntled M$ User 19th May 2009
All Vista users whether they bought retail or it came pre-installed on a new machine should get a free upgrade, M$ has been doing this crap since DOS 3.0. They come out with "something" new and sell it to the public complete with all the bugs. Then comes the next something new and sell it yet again with all the bugs. I think after all this time "I" should be entitled to a free upgrade ergo NOT have to PURCHASE the next something new for a change and yes I've been into computers that long and have been down this path more than once!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just my two cents worth!!
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Win 7 is a new operating system..prick!
Richard Turpin 20th May 2009
This is a business..in business we make money..thats why we are here! that is the ultimate objective...make money....Vista used correctly was excellent..in the hands of people who wanted all the crap from OLDER op systems..wrong. Grow up this is Windows 7 its built to make money so get real and stop feeling burnt and move forward either pay or bugger off. The logic is so simple its a COMMERCIAL WORLD! otherwise try LINOCRAP and spend your time compromising. have anice Day!!
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It is a breach of promise
tomskilling@... 13th May 2009
When I purchased Vista Ultimate (retail) the advertising and microsofts site claimed that ultimate owners would get exclusive "extras" on a monthly basis. This is the only reason I puchased ultimate. I can't see the "extras" which I was promised. Can you explain to me how they did not breach the promise?
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RE: It is a breach of promise
dougbeer 13th May 2009
I tend to agree that Ultimate buyers were short changed; perhaps not legally but in spirit. This is the opportunity for MS to kiss up.
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Liar.
Cayble 16th May 2009
First, I say MS screwed up big time. They are in the wrong and should not have done what they did do, and should have done far more of what they said they would do.

Secondly, your a liar because MS did not say "owners would get exclusive "extras" on a monthly basis" We know this because MS first off makes it plain your not an owner; just a licensee. I'm not saying that MS is in the right; MS is in the wrong, but you being a liar as plain as day does not advance your case.
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What a contradiction
Wintel BSOD 17th May 2009
You can't have it both ways. First you say M$ was wrong, then you call him a liar which means you don't have all your marbles in one place.

Stop being a knee-jerk M$ shill for once in your life.
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Avertising is not a promise.
windozefreak 19th May 2009
Advertisement/commercials are not promises. They are usuall a parity of what services the product should offer. Anybody really believe an F150 can pull a 100 car train with it's brakes on? Don't buy based on advertisements, and if, the thing don't work to your satisfaction, take it back and don't buy from that company anymore.
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And Fairies come at night!!
Richard Turpin 20th May 2009
What a load of crap you used Vista because you thought this was the way forward? You had no idea how to use it so you plead ignorance..you are conversing with the intelligenca now so get real. or try you-tube crap a great whinging centre..
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Windows 7
gpernot@... 13th May 2009
I fully agree that a $29 upgrade from Vista Ultimate to Vindows7 Ultimate would be a fair compensation for those of us who trusted Microsoft and were short changed.
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Windows 7 Ultimate Extra
x-windows user 14th May 2009
Since Micro$oft shortchanged all of us who bought into the Ultimate bull$tuff, they should make Windows 7 an Ultimate Extra for Vista Ultimate purchasers.
It's only fair since the Mutthafekkers did shortchange us on the extras we were promised.

Anyone notice that Windows 7 Ultimate doesn't offer any extras?
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THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!
Gerryg01 13th May 2009
I have been telling people for years that Microsoft is the only company that I know of that sells a defective product and then charges for the fixes, by releasing a new version of the old product with the fixes included. Windows 2.0 - 95, 98. I thought that they finally did something right when they released Windows XP it was the most stable OS that they ever released, although I did wait until the first SP was released before upgrading. My Windows 2000 was buggy so I refused to upgrade to XP before the first SP.

Anyway after all of these years, why would you expect MS to change!
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Your comment makes no sense.
Cayble 16th May 2009
You just printed words there...but any analysis in the world would indicate that what those words said make no sense at all.

Its clear you hate MS, don't try even a little bit to sound like your comments are from an independent mind. They are clearly not.

If you simply hate MS and Windows, just say it and go away. Do not pretend you are adding interesting commentary to the debate when its obvious to anyone with a grade 10 education that your simply pointing out how much you dislike MS.
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Agreed Gerryg01.
bendib 16th May 2009
I never liked M$, and can't see it ever happening. I have been a linux user since 98. You won't regret switching.
I must say, I would use Fedora Linux instead of ubuntu. Fedora is a little more tough on security, but you'll end up worshiping that little blue bubble with the white "f" in it. I am using fedora 7 now. Although 10 is the best so far. Ny netbook runs 10. Very snappy. Welcome to the relm of OS wisdom.
Congratulations.
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29 $ offer
jaichinger@... 14th May 2009
Yes I agree this should be done,or a Donation to Bill's Philantropic Trust's
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$29 my rear end
x-windows user 14th May 2009
Free is the only price I'll pay, since they flat out screwed me on Vista's "Ultimate Extra's"
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Well, I feel for you, but good luck.
Cayble 16th May 2009
NT (try asking for something you might get in life; you get way more that way)
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Ill-Will
bigpicture 15th May 2009
When you are a monopoly you don't have to keep
promises, you don't even have to make them. Do
you think that if MS had agreed to wrong doing with
the EU and said "what can we do to correct it",
instead of fighting tooth and nail "we're right" in the
courts, that the fine would have been even half what
it ended up being? MS is too arrogant to learn, just
another GM.
I work for a company where environmental risk is a
big concern, and to be avoided at all costs. If there
is an accidental infraction it is always reported, and
the best known methods/technology for future
prevention are employed, (also the company sets a
standard away in excess of what is required) then
the fines are usually not huge. But if the company
would start arguing with the government about where
the line is then they will pay big time fines. It is all
about making a genuine effort to comply, and not
spouting "Genuine Advantage" crap.
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Nice, ...but makes no sense for the topic. Thanks for coming out.
Cayble 16th May 2009
NT
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Why not a free Upgrade to all Vista users
Welsey 19th May 2009
With all the inherent bad programming on Microsofts part, and add in delayed product time again, missing software; virus, hack prone software; slow to load and memory hog, inherent hardware problems; Security issues; why not release Windows 7 as either Vista Service Patch 2 or Service Patch 3
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Bit Impractical
AndyPagin 20th May 2009
Well, considering that no Microsoft product has ever been released with a level of reliability anywhere near what would be considered acceptable in any other industry, they'd have to offer compensation to every customer they'd ever had. Teeny bit impractical business move I think!
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free is too generous, but give something
eggmanbubbagee@... Updated - 13th May 2009
Giving 7 away free implies that Vista Ultimate was worth virtually nothing but that Vista non-ultimate was worth every penny you paid? That's just silly and a terrible over-reaction (though the rabid MS haters will love the idea)

Actually the Ultimate part of Ultimate was worth something, just not a massive premium. What more than what we got were we ever going to get from the "extras" but some bells and whistles, even if they had kept them coming?

How about giving back all or maybe half of the premium you paid to get Ultimate over Home? That is a less headline grabbing but sensible suggestion.

How could MS have been so foolish to let the extras languish like they did? An explanation and an apology from MS would also help.
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No, but they should give away a bunch of extras via
Soulstorm 13th May 2009
..Service Pack 2 for Vista. They should integrate a couple of new extras/features in Service Pack 2 for Vista.

Those people bought an OS which had those features missing, so MS should give them via the SP, or via a separate download, or via a DVD/CD to the customers.
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Lower the Prices, MS
Cosmo54 13th May 2009
I like Win 7 Beta and RC very much, but am waiting to see the pricing before I decide whether to buy it at all. I won't waste my money on an Upgrade version of anything, but will only buy a full install. A full install version of Win 7 Home Premium priced @ $100 +/- is reasonable.
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I agree - reasonable pricing is long overdue
BillDem 13th May 2009
I liked W7beta too, but I didn't bother installing the RC because I don't plan to buy Win7 at all. In fact, I already formatted the drive I had the beta on. I'm not planning to buy it, so why keep using it?

If the pricing were much lower this time, I would reconsider this position. I am angry that they are doing the multiple crippled versions tactic again, but if the prices were less than half as much as last time, it might change my mind. If I could buy Ultimate for under $150, I'd definitely consider it.
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So...
JT82 Updated - 13th May 2009
You are publicly declaring you are going to pirate windows because you dont feel that you should pay MS for their work? NICE!

FAIL! Get up off a dollar and buy the real version. Though Im sure you saw that the RC will reboot around every 2 hours after it reaches about 8 months i think? Hope you like to keep reinstalling your OS.
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i think you totally misunderstood him.
lostarchitect 13th May 2009
he says he has uninstalled the beta and won't be installing the RC. where does he say he will pirate anything?
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Even if its the beta..
JT82 13th May 2009
the EULA only permits it to be installed for a certain amount of time AND to be used in a non-production environment. Even if its for at-home use, technically, once the beta period expires he is illegally using the software unless he has another master agreement with them [read: technet plus]. So while he didnt get it from a download torrent - its still pirated.
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Can you not see words beginning with "u"?
use_what_works_4_U 13th May 2009
He has uninstalled the beta!

Get your eyes checked man! He participated in a beta program which did not require any plans to purchase. He clearly states that he uninstalled the beat and is not planning on installing the RC because he has no plans to continue using Win 7!

What do you not understand about the fact that he is no longer using the software (that MS made freely available for a limited time) AND that he has no intentions of installing it again specifically because he does not plan to buy it?
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Thanks for trying to clarify for me.
BillDem 14th May 2009
MacAdam is exactly right. I won't be buying Win7. I won't be pirating Win7. I won't install even the free RC or beta of Win7. Win7 has zero role in my future upgrade plans. The only way this will change is if Microsoft offers Win7 Ultimate for under $150. I thought this was pretty clear from my original post. Nowhere did I mention pirating or continuing to use Win7 in any way. Everyone else got that but him.
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Treat Windows Like a Game
DancherBoi 26th Jun 2009
What Microsoft should have done is released all versions of Vista at launch except Ultimate. They should have held on to it to see what the adoption rate was going to be. If the rate was low, then sit on it and never release it. If the rate was high, then it would have been worth building all the extras that Ultimate had promised.

This is basically what game developers do to entice people who have been on the fence about purchasing their software. Once they see the frenzy, they add level, weapons, character classes etc...then repackage the whole thing as "Game of the Year Edition" or "Platinum Edition" with all the goodies bundled for the same price as the original game was at launch.

I bought Ultimate at Vista launch and was disappointed by the lack of content. I am more disappointed now that there is such a lame upgrade path option for me. I am kind of mad that I am excluded from the pre-order 50% off promotion. MS really needs to get their act together. This is not a time in our economic history to be greedy, it's a time for building relationships with customers by righting wrongs and showing good faith.

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